Obon Return Rush Jams Stations, Airports and Expressways
Train stations, airports and expressways were crowded on August 16 as travelers returned from vacations and hometown visits on the final day of the Obon holiday. (News On Japan)
August 16 saw Tokyo's train stations, airports and expressways brimming with commuters and travelers concluding the Obon holiday. Obon marked the annual return rush, with stations and airports bustling with activity. Expressways experienced traffic bottlenecks, particularly those leading to major cities, as people navigated home via automobile.
The death toll in Chiba Prefecture's torrential rain disaster mounted to 10, with 29 injured, over 1,500 homes wrecked, and one individual still unaccounted for after three days. A 12-year-old British girl who went missing during a family trip to Japan was discovered safe in Yokohama after 59 hours, with authorities ruling out criminal involvement.
More than 1,200 vehicles were trapped on Chiba roads due to flooding, leading to eight fatalities and an ongoing investigation into a drainage pump failure that claimed a life. Japan's meteorological agency elevated the volcanic alert level for Mount Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture from Level 2 to Level 3 on August 14, citing heightened volcanic tremors and elevated gas emissions, cautioning residents to maintain a safe distance from a 2-kilometer radius of the Nakadake No. 1 crater.
The Miyazu Lantern Floating and Fireworks Festival, a centuries-old summer tradition, illuminated Miyazu's waterfront with floating lanterns and fireworks, captivating spectators. Donguri Village, an interactive tourist spot in Saga city established nearly four decades ago, faces closure by autumn 2027 due to aging infrastructure and dwindling visitor numbers.
Bear encounters have become more frequent across Japan as the animals intensify their summer breeding activities, with incidents reported near popular tourist spots, campsites, and fishing areas, including a bear attack that left a man injured in Gunma Prefecture. Kansai International Airport witnessed a peak in the return rush on August 14, accommodating 39,300 international passengers who had spent the Obon holiday abroad.
In Osaka, police have apprehended or referred 38 individuals aged 20 to 40 for suspected reckless group driving and other infractions on Hanna Road, a mountainous route connecting Daito in Osaka Prefecture with Nara, as illegal street racing persists despite ongoing enforcement efforts. Japan's met agency also elevated the volcanic alert level for Mount Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture to Level 3 on August 14, following intensified tremors and increased gas emissions, urging inhabitants to stay clear of the 2-kilometer vicinity of the Nakadake No. 1 crater.
Written by urgent.news from News On Japan's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
